What is the Latin word for tree?

The usual Latin words for “tree” are arbor, planta, māter; also arbuscula, arbŏrārĭus, arboreus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“tree” in Latin

arbora tree; something made from a tree, of wood; the polypus (imagined to have arms like the branches of a tree)plantaany vegetable production that serves to propagate the species; a sprout, shoot, twig, sprig, sucker, graft, scion, slip,mātermother (female parent); mother (source, origin); matron of a house arbusculadiminutive of arbor: sapling (small tree), shrub, bush; tuft of feathers etc. resembling a bush; wood bored to receive a arbŏrārĭuspertaining to trees arboreustree; tree-like, wooden arbustuma plantation, orchard; especially a vineyard planted with trees (on which vines would grow); woods, place overgrown with pōmāriumorchard arborēscōto become a tree

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

tree

arbor (general term): planta (for transplanting): mater (from which grafts or scions are taken). A little tree, arbuscula: concerned with or belonging to trees, arborarius: of a tree, arboreus (e.g., the fruit): a place planted with trees, arbustum (especially a place where vines grow on other trees); pomarium (an orchard): to plant a field with trees, arbu stare agrum (Plin., 17, 23, 35, No. 22, or § 201): to grow to a tree, arborescere: the tree of a saddle, *forma sellae equestris.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for tree?: The usual Latin words for “tree” are arbor, planta, māter; also arbuscula, arbŏrārĭus, arboreus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.